Portugal A Good Place For Young And Restless

November 13, 1988|By Lucy Izon, Special to The Tribune.

PORTIMAO, PORTUGAL — The number of youth hostels in Portugal has jumped from 14 to 18 this year. That`s still far fewer than most European countries-Germany has more than 500-but it will be some help to young foreign visitors.

Three of the new hostels are in the north, and the fourth is in the popular Algarve region, at Portimao. Because the Algarve area has moderate year-round temperatures and hundreds of miles of beautiful beaches-and Portugal generally has cheaper prices than other European countries-it`s a popular spot for young travelers to take a break during a budget tour of Europe.

The new youth hostel at Portimao is listed as a coastal hostel, but that term can be misleading. The hostel is actually on the edge of a residential area, at Lugar do Coca Maravilhas, across the road from a gypsy camp, a little more than half a mile from the center of town.

The Praia Da Rocha area, where there are beautiful beaches, is several miles from town. You can reach it by taking a 35-cent bus ride. The hostel

(which is expected to open in November) is a beautiful new building with skylights, solar water-heaters and a terrific view of the countryside.

It can accommodate 180 visitors. Dormitory rooms are limited to four people. The rate per person is about $4.50 a night, breakfast included. Eight twin rooms are also available for about $16.50 a room, breakfast included. Lunches and dinners will be available for $2.25.

There is a separate kitchen guests can use to do their own cooking. During the last 10 years there has been a tremendous increase in facilities for tourists. There are still the winding streets, whitewashed homes, colorful fishing boats, markets, dogs and motorscooters that were very much a part of Algarve I visited seven years ago, but the number of high-rises, construction sites and English restaurants and pubs has grown.

Most shoestring-budget travelers who visit the Algarve eventually head west, through Lagos, to the less developed area near Sagaras. Rail service goes only as far as Lagos, a historic city about 11 miles west of Portimao.

In Lagos, the capital of the Agarve from the 16th to the 18th Century, you can see bullfights (in Portugal the bulls are not killed). They are held on Saturday afternoons, April through October. Prices depend on where you sit. Cheaper seats, in the sun, start at about $12.50.

To get from Lagos to Sagaras you travel about one hour by bus. There are several departures each day.

In Sagaras the youth hostel is in a historical landmark, an old fortress that was once Prince Henry`s School of Navigation.

Traveling along the Algarve, I found that I didn`t always get complete information when I asked about transportation services at bus stations or the offices of private companies. Eventually I learned that it was better to go to the local tourist information office and get their advice.

I also found that commission rates for exchange dollars were extremely high. I was charged about $3.25 plus 30 cents tax to make a transaction. Different banks charge different rates, so shop around-and don`t make a greater number of exchanges than you need to.

Guidebooks will warn you that banks close at noon and then for the day at 2:45 p.m. This has started to change. In September many banks in Lisbon started to stay open at noon and not close until 3 p.m. A few in the Algarve have begun to follow their lead.

For more information on Portugal, contact the Portuguese Government Tourist Office, 548 5th Ave., New York, N.Y. 10036.